New UW President to Visit Powell May 18

New University of Wyoming President Laurie Nichols has a full day planned when she visits Powell Wednesday, May 18, to meet with community leaders, Park County legislators, and Northwest College and Powell school district officials.

Wednesday’s event is part of a two-day trip to the Big Horn Basin that includes a stop in Worland Tuesday, May 17.

During her first months in office, Nichols plans to spend a day or two of each week traveling around the state to meet with citizens, community college and public school leaders, legislators, alumni, media and others.

“I’m looking forward to getting around the state to meet with people and hear their thoughts and expectations for Wyoming’s university,” says Nichols, who begins her duties as president Monday, May 16. “This is a crucial time for the state and UW, and input from the public is important to make sure the university fulfills its land-grant mission of education, research and service to the entire state.”

Nichols’ first trip to Powell will be as guest speaker at the Powell Rotary Club’s luncheon, followed by a visit to Powell High School at 1:30 p.m., where she will meet with Superintendent Kevin Mitchell and students.

UW’s new president then will visit with former UW Trustee Dave Bonner, Powell Tribune publisher, mid-afternoon, followed by a visit to Northwest College to meet with President Stefani Hicswa and her administrative team.

The day concludes with a dinner at the Nelson Foundation House with the county’s legislative delegation.

Nichols comes to UW from South Dakota State University, where she has served as provost and executive vice president since 2009. Before that, she was dean of the SDSU College of Education and Human Sciences from 1994 to 2008. She began her career in higher education as a member of the faculty of the University of Idaho from 1988 to 1994.

Nichols was born and raised in South Dakota. A first-generation college graduate, she received a bachelor’s degree in education from South Dakota State in 1978. She then earned a master’s degree in vocational and adult education from Colorado State University in 1984 and a Ph.D. in family and consumer sciences education from Ohio State University in 1988.